GLADMAN
A visit to the superbly placed Carn y Gigfran accorded an opportunity to reacquaint myself with the equally wondrous Carnau’r Garreg Las – perhaps for the last time, given the effort it took. This is the northern monument.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Northern cairn. Note probable former kerb stone.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Northern cairn. My rucksack gives an indication of the impressive scale.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
An arc of the northern cairn, looking toward the southern.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The larger northern cairn. At almost 100ft diameter this is a very substantial monument to find lying around........
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Southern cairn, with northern beyond. note the quartzite ‘offerings’. I noticed a few isolated outcrops walking north so perhaps this was an original feature?
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Southern cairn... now I’m usually against this sort of thing left at ancients monuments – but then, what with the current rise of populism.. the evil anti-semitism of the far left and nationalistic tendencies of the far right... one can’t argue with these sentiments.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The southern of the two great, grassy cairns surmounting the southern end of Mynydd Llanlliwni – although substantial (c70ft diameter), it is nonetheless not a patch on its massive neighbour.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The distant antennae mark the site of the Crugiau Edryd upon Mynydd Llanybyther. I decided not to press on but return to Crugiau Siar and enjoy the moment.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The second monument – north of the road – possesses a massive, circular footprint, but is sadly very denuded indeed. Unless it was a ring cairn?
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
To be fair, this monument was far more upstanding than I had anticipated... unlike its near neighbour.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Photo of Iron ‘Fire Dog’ found at Capel Garmon – from Prehistoric England (Graham Clarke – 1948)
Image credit: (Assumed) National Museum of Wales
Photo of Bronze shield from Prehistoric England (Graham Clarke – 1948)
Image credit: (Assumed) British Museum
Highlighting the steep, yet manageable ascent beside the (very windy) Nant Buarth Glas… should others choose to visit this fine monument. The superb Craig Rhiwarth sits across the cwm.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Craig Cwm-silyn and Garnedd Goch glower across Dyffryn Nantlle; both are crowned by Bronze Age cairns. Incidentally Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd, top left, features a monument erected for – in my estimation – a far less worthy individual: Queen Victoria.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking from the (very) well defended main entrance of Tre’r Ceiri. The cairn can be clearly seen to the left of the summit ridge.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Speaking of superlative, Tre’r Ceiri is seen below to the right. Northern Snowdonia lies beyond...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking into the sun (approx south-westerly) across the shattered remnants of the ‘other cairn’.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The monument really is a superlative example of an upland cairn.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The surviving dry stone defences are arguably among the finest of their type in the UK
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The superb northern defences looking toward the central summit of Yr Eifl. At 1,850ft it’s a pretty hefty hill – however, the superlative views aside, the prime reason for a Citizen Cairn’d to visit is the magnificent cairn.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Seduced by the light. A ‘postern gate’ to the north from without...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx south west: the interior possesses a number of well preserved hut circles. The Lleyn Peninsular stretches beyond, through the haze, featuring numerous other fine hill forts, the magnificent Garn Boduan perhaps primary.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Since this revisit was a spur of the moment decision... and I lacked a map.... the direct ascent from south-east seemed a good idea. A quarter of the way up I’d changed my mind.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Few hill forts are so utterly overwhelmed by their surroundings. But then no other hill fort is overlooked by The Nantlle Ridge. Southern defences, looking east.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Northern defences looking approx east. The archaeology of this little fort is surprisingly decent.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The evening draws in.... looking toward Llyn Nantlle Uchaf and a distant Yr Eifl. In retrospect this moment was the catalyst for a visit to the latter the next day.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking south to Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd and Craig Cwm-Silyn (top right)
Image credit: Robert Gladstone